Calculating machine



March 16, 1943. c. M, FRIDEN CALCULATING MACHINE Fiied y 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m E m WM E W mam n11! v 4 X a QQ g g \Q ATTORNEY March 16, 1943. c. M. FRI DEN 2,313,817

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Shet 2 ATTORNEY March 16, 1943. c, M. FRIDEN CALCULATING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 E 5 a g m 6 1 .R\ 8\ 8 I96 5 E av s m, y v 3 ATTORNEY March 16; 1943. c. MQF'RIDEN CALCULATING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 16,1943. (3. M. FRIDEN CALCULATING MACH DIE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1940 mvENToR Car/ M, Fr/o'gn ATTORNEY high speed improved shift mechanism a shifting operation Patented Mar. 16, 1943 s Carl M. Friden, Pleasanton,

Friden Calculating Machine ration of California Calif., assignor to 00., Inc., a corpo- Application July 29, 1940, Serial No. 348,099 10 Claims. (Cl. 74-527) This'invention relates to calculating machines and is concerned more particularly with the provision of improvements designed to minimize the noise and to obtain silent operation of reciprocating or oscillatory parts. v

In calculating machines and similar equipment of the power-driven type, there are numerous parts which are driven cyclically to oscillate, reciprocate, or pivot about axes, and because of the operation of modern machines running between four hundred to one thousand R. P. M., the noise considerations involved with the operation of such parts present a source of considerable annoyance and trouble to operators,

particularly in offices where alarge number of machines are employedvat the same time. It is highly desirable, therefore, that the operationof calculating machines and similar equipment be as silent as possible, particularlywhen used in large groups or in omces where conversations and other business must be transacted while the ma chine is operated.

It is a general object of the invention to provide means for silencing the operation of the moving parts in equipment such as calculating machines.

Another object of the invention is toprovide an of a smooth and even action of silent character.

Another objectof the invention is to provide asilencing means for the operation of reciprocating or oscillating parts of a calculating machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of a calculating machine embodying th in vention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating certain of the shift control connections;

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the shifting mechanism in cooperative relation with respect to the carriage;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the shift mechanism during operation. As

. shown, the parts are in half cycle position during Figure 5 is a rear elevational view similar to Figures 3 and4 but showing the Parts as positioned in a full cycle position but operating dur ing a shifting operation. I

Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of'Figure 3.

Figure! is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line 1-4 in Figure 3.

The calculating machine selected for illustration in connection with the invention is of the general type described in my Patent No. 2,229,889, dated January 28, 1941, as modified in the copending application of Carl M. Friden and AnthonyvB; Machado, Serial No. 343,368, filed July 1, 1940. The machineincludes a base l0 upon which side plates II and l 2 of the frame construction are mounted within the casing I3. The frame of the machine also includes transverse brackets |6, l1, l8 and I9 which extend between the side plates I and I2 and are securedthereto in any convenient manner.

The machine includes a shiftable register carriage 2| which is mounted for endwise sliding movement on frame brackets of rollers 22. The register carriage 2| serves to mount the numeral wheels 23 of the revolutions counter havingan actuator 24 of suitable con- 1 struction associated therewith. The carriage 2| also mounts numeralwheels 26 of theaccumu- I later which: are suitably journaled in carriage frame 21 and adapted for actuatf ;.n through suitable plus-minus gearing 28 having a sliding driving engagement with a shaft 29. Each shaft 29 receives difi'erential increments of movement in a known manner from the associated actuating cylinderll' under control of the usual bank of numeral keys 32 associated therewith. The sign character of the registration is controlled by shifting' of the plus-minus gearing 28 under the conright arms 34 on a transverse rockable shaft 36 which may be controlled in any convenient man- ,ner in performingcalcul'ating operations.

The drive for the actuating cylinders SI and for all other motor-driven or power operations of the machine is derived from motor 4| having its drive shaft 42 connected by gearing 43 with the driving element or ratchet 44 of a cyclically operable clutch. Ratchet 44 is journaled on driven shaft '46 which is suitably connected to drive actuating shafts 41 on which the cylinders 3| are mounted. The cyclic operation of the clutch is controlled by means of clutch dog 48 carried by driven part 49 of the clutch and springs-urged by means of spring 5| to clutch engaging position. I t

The engagement of the clutch is controlled by means of clutch control lever 52 pivoted at 53 on side plate I 2. Control lever 52 is connected by link 54 with the pivoted lever 55 which is pivotally connected at its lower end wth a second'pivl5 and I9 by means ot'ed lever 51 which controls the opening and closing of motor circuit contacts 58.

Shift mechanism-Means are provided for shifting the carriage selectively in either direction for one or more ordinal steps of movement, and the shifting means is preferably operated from the actuating shafts 41 and the cylically operable clutch under the control of a pair of manually depressible, freely retractable shift keys which control shifting of the carriage for one or more steps of movement in accordance with the length of time (the number of machine cycles) for which they are maintained depressed.

Referring to Figure 1, the shift control keys are indicated at and H and are mounted for vertical sliding movement on side plate I2 by suitable pin and slot connections. Suitable spring means (not shown) may be provided for maintaining keys 10 and H in their raised posi-- tions as shown in Figure 1. As seen in Figure 1,

each key 10 and H is provided with a pin 12 r which projects to either side of the key. One end of each pin 12 cooperates with a suitable cam surface on a claw arm 13 secured to lever 56 for rocking movement therewith. Therefore, upon depression of either shift key 10 and H, levers 56 and 51 are rocked to engage the clutch and close the motor circuit contacts 58.

Prior to the engagement of the clutch and closing of the motor contacts, each of keys 10 and H is operative to engage corresponding shift connections, so that selective shifting movement of the carriage 2| in either direction for one or more ordinal positions is determined by depression and release of the respective keys. As seen in Figure 2, the respective left-hand ends of pin 12 carried by the keys 10 and H are operatively related to arms 16 and 11, respectively, which are carried by sleeve 18 and shaft 19 on which sleeve 18 is pivotally mounted.

As seen in Figure 2, sleeve 16 also carries a.

I depending arm 6! which is operatively engaged to operate a push rod 81 which may be slidably mounted for endwise movement in cross brackets I1, I8 and 88 (Figures 1 and 2). Shaft 19 also carries a depending arm 8I (not shown) which is similarly related to a push rod 89 (Figure '1).

The respective push rods 81 and 69 upon depression of the respectivekeys H and 10 serve to enable respective drive connections from the actuating shafts to a shift drive gear in a manner to be described. As seen in Figures 6 and '7, the push rods 61 and 89 aretelescopically engaged within respective collars 9I, the respective collars 9| being secured to respective forked arms 92 and 93. Respective springs 94 compressed between collars 9| and washers 96 on respective rods 81 and 89 serve to maintain each telescopic push rod connection in extended position.

Forked arms 92 and 93 (Figures 1, 6 and '7) engage respective annular grooves in shiftable drive-establishing collars 91 and 98, which have endwise-slidable driving engagement with fixed collars 99 secured on the rearward ends of adjacent actuating shafts 41.

plate I06. Idler gear II2 also meshes with large gear II3 (Figures 6 and '7) of a double gear assembly including a small gear II4 meshing with shift drive gear H6. The gear assembly III and H4 are carried by shaft II1 suitably journaled in brackets I6 and plate I06. Gear H6 is carried by shaft II8 suitably journaled in brackets I6 and in portion I06a (Figure 6) of plate I06.

As seen in Figure 6, gear sleeve I04 carries gear I2I which meshes directly with gear III of the double gear assembly. The result is that gear sleeves I03 and I04, when driven, serve to drive the gear train including gears H3, H4, and III in opposite direction. The gearing provides a drive ratio of four to one, so that each rotation of the gear sleeve I03 or gear sleeve I04 will provide a one-quarter rotation of gear II6.

As seen most clearly in Figures 1 and 3', shaft II6 which carries shift drive gear 6 also carries a drive plate I3I carrying four equally spaced shift drive pins I32 for engagement with notches I33 of shift rack I34 on carriage 2|. As seen in Figure 3, yieldable pawl I36 pivoted at I31 on rack I34 .provides one wall of one end slot I33, so that the disc I3I upon clockwise rotation, as shown in Figure 3, will be ineffective to shift the carriage past its end position but can become effective upon counter-clockwise movement to shift the carriage from its left-most position as viewed from the front of the machine. A similar yieldable pawl may be provided at the other end of rack I34.

The arrangement is such that depression of key 10 operates through the associated linkage to engage drive tooth IOI with its corresponding notch I02 (Figure '7) of gear sleeve I03 to effect right-hand shifting of the carriage (i. e., to the left as shown in Figure 3) by causing counterclockwise rotation of disc I3I. correspondingly, depression of shift key 1| causes shifting of the carriage to the left as viewed from the front of the machine by engagement of drive collar 98 with gear sleeve I04 to effect counter-clockwise rotation of disc I3I as viewed in Figure 3.

Means are provided for locking the carriage in any shifted position thereof, said means being releasable upon operation of either shift key. As best seen in Figures 3' and 4, the shift disc I3I carries'four pins I66 equally spaced thereabout, for cooperation with the upper ends of a pair of scissorlevers I61 and I66 pivoted at I69 and I10 respectively on plate I06 and having a pin and slot connection I1I. Stop arms I61 and I6! are urged together into operative relation with respect to pins I66 by spring I12 tensioned between the lower ends thereof. Stop arm I61 carries a depending arm I13 which lies in front of an ear I14 (Figures 3 and 7) of a link I16 pivotally connected to similar bell cranks I11 which are pivoted on horizontal axes on respective brackets I18.

I19 lying in front of a depending tab I60 of respective push forks 92 and 93 and together with the link I16 form a parallel linkage which, upon operation of either of push rods 61 and 69, is operated to rock the stop arms I61 and I68 to disengaged position, as shown in Figure 4, for example.

The shift drive disc I3I has centralizing means associated therewith which operates to insure accurate positioning of the carriage in any shifted position thereof and thereby obtain proper alignment of the ordinal numeral wheels with their actuating drive connections. The centralizing Each bell crank I11 has an arm deadening means under heavy spring pressure applied to the second or actuating apart of the centralizing means. The centralizer actuating centralizing force is applied through the soundpart is disabled during plural cycle operations of the shifting mechanism until the carriage is in the desired shifted position, so that during plural cycle operation the follower part which constant- 1y oscillates is under only light spring pressure and hence makes a minimum of noise, while presenting a hard metallic wearing surface. The actuating part when released at the end of the operation exerts its heavy centralizing force through the sound deadening means.

As seen in Figure 3, the shift drive disc I3I is provided with four equally spaced centralizing depressions I8I which are in equally spaced apart relation between the pins I32.

Opposite depressions I8I of the disc I3I are engaged by respective rollers I82 which are carried at the upper end ofrespective follower arms I83, I84 which are pivoted at I86 and I81 respectively on plate I06. The arms I83 and I84 are connected by a comparatively light tension spring I88 which serves to urge rollers I82 into engagement with the disc I3I at all times. By virtue of their light spring I 88 the arms I83 and I84 can follow the periphery of disc I3I with a minimum of noise. I

Associated with the centralizing arms I83 and I 84 (Figure 3) are a pair of more strongly spring: urged operating centralizers which are latched out of active position during plural cycle shifting operations. For this purpose a pair of operating centralizing bell cranks I9I and I92 are also pivoted on pins I01 and are connected by strong tension spring I93. The upper arm of bell cranks I9I and I92 is provided with a laterally extending cranks I9I and I92 out of engagement with the centralizing arms I83 and I84.

Automatically operable means are provided for maintaining the latch 204 active during plural cycle operation of the shifting mechanism and for disabling the latchupon completion of the desired shifting operation. For this purpose, the lever 204 is provided with an arm 2 which overlies a roller 2I3 carried by a cam follower arm 2I4 pivoted at 2I6 on plate I53 and urged in a clockwise direction by spring 2I1. Cam follower arm 2I4 is provided with a tooth 2I8 which is adapted in the full-cycleposition of the parts' to seat in a notch 2I9 of a cam disc 22I secured on the extended end 222 of one of actuating shafts 41. Disc MI is adapted to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, and

I the trailing side of its notch 2I9 is provided with a cam face cooperating with the cam face of tooth 2I8 to move the arm 2I4 and allow latch lever 204 to move into latching engagement with tooth 202.

Thus latch lever 204 moves into latching engagement with the bell cranks I9I and I92 when they are moved to inactive position by the engagernent of rollers I 82 with the high portions 208 of disc I3I. It will be noted that the contour of cam disc 22I is slightly spiralled to provide a higher radial depth at point a on one side of the cam notch 2I9 with respect to point b at the other side thereof, the action being such that upon continuous rotation of cam disc '22I during a plural cycleoperation, the cam follower arm 2I4 does not have 'suflicient time to seat in the notch 2I9. Thus while a plural cycle shifting operation is in progress, the centralizing bell cranks I9I and I92 are maintained in the displaced position shown in Figures 4 and 5, so that their action on thedisc I3I is avoided. This results in a smooth, even shifting operation 7 and in a substantial reduction of noise'of opera.-

ear I94 which is parallel to a similar ear I96 of y the associated arm I83. A sound deadening button I91 of rubber or other similar silencing mate, rial is secured to, ear I94 for engagementwith ear I96. For example, ear I94 may be apertured and button I91 may be provided withan integral extension I98 which has a press fit in the aper tured ear.

The lower arms of respective bell cranks I9I and I92 (Figure 3) extend into overlapping relation and are connected so that the bell cranks move together. As seen in Figure 3, the bell crank I9I is provided with reduced portion I99 tion which would occur if the centralizing rollers I82 which follow the periphery of the disc I3I were under heavy spring pressure at alltimes. Also, when the operating bell cranks I9I and I92 are released their impact on arms I83 and I84 is deadened and silenced by the rubber silencers I 91 so that the noise resulting therefrom is minimized.

on its lower arm which overlies-the pin 20I car- 'ried by bell crank I92. Bell crank I82 on its lower arm carriesa downwardly extending ear 202 which, in the centralizing position of bell cranks I9I and I92, is positioned alongside the upper end 203 of a latch lever 204 which is pivoted at 206 on plate I06. Lever 204 is urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, by spring 201 secured thereto and to arm I68.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that upon rotation of the disc I 3I the rollers I82 are lifted from the depressions I8I to raised portions 208 thereof, as shown in Figure 4, for example, and at the same time carry bell cranks I9I and I92 therewith. When the lower arms of the bell cranks have been lifted as shown in Figure 5, the latch end 203 of the latch lever 204 will snap under the ear 202, to maintain the bell through arm 225 and ment with the bell cranks Means may be provided to prevent operation of the centralizer latching means durin division operation to enable functioning of the centralizing operating bell cranks irrespective of the continuous cvcle operation of theactuating means in performing division. Referring to Figures 1, 4, 5, shaft 224 of a conventional form of division mechanism is settable in a clockwise direction pin 226 of the division setting mechanism. Shaft 224 carries an arm 221 having its end normally above and out of the path of an extension 228 of latch lever 204. Upon setting of shaft 224 during division arm 221 moves into blocking relation with respect to extension 228 of latching lever 204 to block operative ment thereof during division.

In operation, with the carriage positioned as shown in Figure 3, for example, as the shift key is depressedand the drive for the cam disc I3I is enabled during the first half of the first shift cycle the cam disc moves from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4, so that arm I83, for examplaand bell crank I9I are moved back or oscillated a suflicient amount so that the latch lever .204 can move into latching engage- I9I and I92, At the movesame time the follower arm 2 is displaced by the cam disc 22i to permit such latching movement. Subsequently, as long as the follower arm is held out by continued rotation of the cam disc 22!, for example, as shown in Figure 5. the bell cranks l9! and I92 are latched in disengaged position as shown in Figure 5. At the end of the operation, when the cam disc 22I reaches its full cycle position, the cam follower arm 2 moves into its seated position as shown in Figure 3 to move the latch lever 204 to inactive position. Thus the centralizing bell cranks i9! and I92 can move into engagement with the centralizing arms I83 and I84, and this movement is effected without substantial noise because of the interposed rubber silencing buttons I91.

I claim:

1. In a calculating machine, drive means including a disc rotatable in cyclic fashion, a centralizing element constantly engaging said disc under light spring pressure, a second element for urging said first element towards said part under heavy spring pressure, sound-deadening means for transmitting force from said second element to said first element, and means for latching said second element in inactive position, said latching means including means for effecting delatching of said element upon termination of the cyclic operation of said disc.

2. In a calculating machine, drive means including a part movable in cyclic fashion, an element constantly engaging said part under light spring pressure, a second element for urging said first element toward said part under heavy spring pressure, and means for latching said second element in inactive position.

3. In a calculating machine, drive means including a part movable in cyclic fashion, an element constantly engaging said part under light spring pressure, a second element for urging said first element toward said part under heavy spring pressure, sound deadening means for transmitting force from said second element to said first element, and means for latching said second element in inactive position.

4. In a calculating machine having a cyclically operable mechanism, means for centralizing said mechanism including a centralizing disc mounted for rotation with said mechanism and a two-part follower construction including one part constantly engaged with said disc under spring pressure and another part for urging said first part against said disc with additional spring pressure, and means for latching said other part in inactive position during a plural cycle operation of said mechanism.

5. In a calculating machine having a cyclically operable mechanism, means for centralizing said mechanism including a centralizing disc mounted for rotation with saidmechanism and a twopart follower construction including one part constantly engaged with said disc under spring pressure and another part for urging said first part against said disc with additional spring pressure, said centralizing means also including thrust-transmitting silencing means interposed between said parts, and means for latching said other part in inactive position during a plural cycle operation of said mechanism.

6. In a calculating machine having a cyclically operable mechanism, means for centralizing said mechanism including a centralizing cam disc, a follower arm for constantly engaging said disc under spring pressure, and an actuating arm for engaging said first-named arm under spring pressure to supply additional force for the centralizing operation.

7. In a calculating machine having a cyclically operable mechanism, means for centralizing said mechanism including a centralizing cam disc, a follower arm for constantly engaging said disc under spring pressure, an actuating arm for engaging said first-named arm under additional spring pressure, and a silencer pad for transmitting force from aid actuating arm to said follower arm.

8. In a calculating machine having a cyclically operable'mechanism, means for centralizing said mechanism, said centralizing means including a cam disc having a centralizing depression and a spring-urged arm for engagement with said depression, said centralizing means also including a second spring-urged arm for urging said firstnamed arm against said disc, and means for latching said second arm in inactive position during a plural cycle operation of said mechanism.

9. In a calculating machine having a cyclically operable mechanism, means for centralizing said mechanism, said centralizing means including a cam discand atwo-part follower construction having thrust-transmitting sound deadening means interposed between the two parts of said follower construction, one of said parts constantly engaging said disc, means for latching the other part of said two-part follower in inactive position during a, plural cycle operation of said mechanism, and means for causing delatching of said other part upon termination of the driv for said mechanism.

10. In a calculating machine having a cyclically operable mechanism, means for centralizing said mechanism, said centralizing means includin a cam disc and a two-part follower construction having thrust-transmitting sound deadening means interposed between the two parts oi said follower construction, one of said parts constantly engaging said disc under spring pressure, and the other of said parts urging said one part towards said disc under additional spring pressure, means for latching the other part of said centralizing means in inactive position during a plural cycle operation of said mechanism, and means for causing delatching of said other part upon termination of the drive for said mechanism.

CARL M. FRIDEN. 

